Marshall McClung
In Alfred Lord Tennyson’s 1835 poem “Locksley Hall” is the line, “In the spring, a young man’s fancy lightly turns to love.”
Apparently this could also be said to be true of Valentine’s Day, as it is projected that a meal for a couple will cost between $154 – $192, depending on how romantic you feel or your financial status.
For America, this amounts to $25.9 billion dollars – with $9.9 billion of that going for an evening out and jewelry. Men will spend almost twice as much as women for this day.
Just how and when did Valentine’s Day traditions – such as cards, flowers, candy and eating – out get started?
Valentine’s Day cards date back to the 1700s, when writing romantic notes on plain paper became popular. In the 1820s, paper designed especially for Valentine’s Day was produced with colorful illustrations on it.
The giving of flowers was said to have been started by King Charles II of Sweden in the 17th century as a way of expressing romantic emotions. Red roses have become a favorite flower for that purpose.
The first box of chocolates especially for Valentine’s Day was produced by Richard Cadbury in the early 1800s. He packaged the chocolates in a heart-shaped box and sold them as a romantic gift for sweethearts.
Valentine’s Day dinners date back to the 1900s and over the years, it has become one of the busiest days for restaurants.
So what are you giving your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day?
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs@email.com.